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Please excuse the blasphemy, but there is excitement in the air (not to mention a feeling of needed warmth) when the new year begins and we talk baseball; thus the column is back from the holiday hiatus.

By the end of the month, players will be trickling into the Red Sox training facility in Fort Myers, Fla., getting an early start on spring training.

Pitchers and catcher officially report to the major league camp by Feb. 15. The first full workout for all players is Feb. 20. Exhibition games begin Feb. 27 with the annual doubleheader against Boston College and Northeastern.

By that time the minor leaguers will officially begin their spring training.

Last season the strength of the Portland Sea Dogs was their starting rotation, with Brandon Workman, Drake Britton, Anthony Ranaudo and Matt Barnes. The former two reached the majors (Workman becoming a key arm in the postseason), and the latter two reached Triple-A Pawtucket.

This year the Sea Dogs’ forte should be its infield, especially if Garin Cecchini stays in Double-A.

We could be looking at an infield of Travis Shaw at first, Mookie Betts at second, Deven Marrero at short and Cecchini at third.

Shaw, 23, coming off a struggling 2013, rebounded in the Arizona Fall League (.361 and five home runs, albeit in a short sample of 17 games).

Betts, 21, had a breakout season in Class A (combined .314 average and .923 OPS in Greenville and Salem).

Marrero, 23, a first-round draft pick in 2012, showed off his superior fielding for 19 games in Portland last year while batting .231.

Because of his age (Cecchini turns 23 in April) and experience, it might be expected that Cecchini would return to the Sea Dogs. But then you look at outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. He played 61 games for the Sea Dogs in 2012 (.271 average, .373 OBP). He also was 22.

But Bradley shined in spring training, started in the Red Sox season opener (with Jacoby Ellsbury hurt) and played most of the season in Triple-A.

If Cecchini moves up to Pawtucket, then the Sea Dogs could get minor league free agent Carlos Rivero, 25, who has been with the Indians, Phillies and Nationals organizations. Veteran Sea Dogs Heiker Meneses or Derrik Gibson are also possibilities.

There is also the chance that the Orioles will have to return Michael Almanzar to the Red Sox if he does not make Baltimore’s major league roster.

BASEBALL AMERICA’S top-10 prospect lists for each organization have all been published. Nine of the 10 on the Red Sox list have either played for the Sea Dogs or are expected to be with the Sea Dogs this year.

Xander Bogaerts is Boston’s No. 1 prospect, followed by lefty Henry Owens (likely the Sea Dogs ace in 2014), Bradley, pitcher Allen Webster, catcher Blake Swihart (expected to be Portland’s starter this season), Cecchini, Betts, Workman, Barnes and Trey Ball (a first-round draft pick last year who will be in Class A in 2014).

CATCHER MATT SPRING will likely be back with the Sea Dogs for a third season. The veteran, known for how well he handles a pitching staff along with his clubhouse leadership, recently re-signed with the Red Sox.

RELIEVER CHRIS MARTIN made for a good story, having risen from the independent leagues. But Martin’s tale will now be told with the Rockies. He was traded to Colorado, along with major league reliever Franklin Morales, for infielder Jonathan Herrera.

THINK THE CUBS like players from the Red Sox organization? Chicago, run by former Boston GM Theo Epstein, recently signed outfielder Ryan Kalish, as well as former Red Sox lefty Tommy Hottovy.

RUSS MORMAN, the former Sea Dogs hitting coach, was named manager of the Richmond Flying Squirrels, where Portland native Ken Joyce is the hitting coach. Their Hadlock reunion will take place Aug. 15-17.

Trivia: Morman and new Sea Dogs manager Billy McMillon were teammates in 1996 and ’97 on the Marlins’ Triple-A team in Charlotte, N.C.

MCMILLON WILL BE among the invited guests for the Sea Dogs’ annual Hot Stove Dinner on Jan. 17 at the Sable Oaks Marriott. Workman, Bradley and Red Sox third base coach Brian Butterfield will also be in attendance. Tickets are $50. See the Sea Dogs website (www.seadogs.com) or call 879-9500 for more information.

THE SEA DOGS’ annual two-for-one ticket deal/food drive is taking place. Through Jan. 31, fans can get a free ticket for every ticket purchased, along with a nonperishable food item donated. All of the donations will go to the Good Shepherd Food Bank.

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